Semaphore-signal for railways



(No Model.)

C. H. KOYL. SEMAPHORB SIGNAL FOR RAILWAYS.

No. 410,599. Patented Sept. 10, 1889.

@13 @Mmmm/m e@ NA PETERS. PhDiWLl-lcgmplwh W-llhngwm DA C.

Wmme@ UNITED STATES PATENT QEEICE.

CHARLES I'IERSCHEL KOYL, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SEMAPHORE-SIGNLAL FOR RAILWAYSJ SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 410,599, dated September 10, 1889. Application filed July 16,1889. Serial No. 317,737. (No model.)

To all 107mm, it may concern.

Be it known that I, CHARLES HERscHEL KOYL, of Philadelphia, in the Stateof Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement inSemaphore-Signals for Railway and other Uses, of which the following isa specification.

Uy invention relates to that kind of semaphore-signal embraced in myLetters Patent of the United States,No. 384,170, dated June 5, 1888,viz: a signaling apparatus comprising, essentially, a reflector havingthe shape of the segment of a paraboloid rotatable about an axiscoincident with the axis of the paraboloid of which the reflector is aseg'- ment and a lamp or other source of light located at the focalpoint of said paraboloid.

In the practical use of this kind of semaphore signal it has beenascertained that while it is exceedingly efficient at long distances,yet when it is closely approached the observer gets out of range of thereflected rays, which pass above and beyond him, the consequence beingthat the signal at close range is not distinct, and, indeed, is soobscure at times as not to be easily seen. This is a feature which iscriticised, not without reason, by train-men, and particularly by thelocomotive-engineers, who prefer, in coming to a standstill, to runtheir engines as close up to and under the signal as is practicable, butwho in so doing reach a point where the reflected rays are notperceptible, and consequently where changes in the position of thesemaphore are not easily discernible atnight. To remedy this is theobject of my invention, to which end I provide along the upper edge ofthe paraboloidal reflecting-surface an overhang or hood, which formspart of and in effect a continuation of such reflecting-surface, andwhich acts to deflect rays directly downward, or nearly so, wherebythere is made visible to one closely approaching the semaphore at nighta band of light by which the position of the semaphore can be determinedand its movement readily ascertained and followed, this reflectingoverhang or hood being so formed that it does not in any way interferewith or detract from the usefulness of the paraboloidalreflecting-surface for long-distance signaling.

The nature of my invention and the Amanner in which the salue is or maybe carried into effect will be readily understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which-- Figure l is a front elevation of thesemaphore-arm and upper part of post on which the same is mounted. Fig.2 is a view, 011 enlarged scale, of a part of the reflecting-surface,having a double wave surface, this being the preferred form of surface.Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section, on enlarged scale, of thesemaphore-arm, showing the downwardly-deflecting overhang or hood.

In the drawings, A is the semaphore-supporting standard or pole. B isthe semaphore-arm, having the reflector C (usually glass with a silveredback) formed as a segment of a paraboloid, said arm being pivoted uponan axis coincident wit-h the axis of the paraboloid, and D is the lampor other source of light, all as in my aforesaid Letters Patent.

The overhang or hood hereinbefore referred to is indicated at a. Thisdevice may be made separately from the paraboloidal reflectingsegment C;butI prefer and find it more convenient, on many accounts, to form it inone with the segment, to which end the segment may be made of sufficientwidth and dimensions to permit it to be bent over along its upper edgeto such extent and with such curve or at such inclination as to makethis part (which, like the rest of the segment, is of silvered glass,preferably) a reflector which will cast the reflected rays downward, sothat it shall be visible as a band of light to an observer below atavery short distance from the foot of the standard.

rlhis reflecting overhang' or hood is applicable not only to aplain-surfaced paraboloidal reflecting-segment such as described in myaforesaid Letters Patent, but also to a paraboloidal reflecting-segmentimpressed with corrugations or waves, as set forth in my application forLetters Patent, Serial No. 3l 3,336, filed June 6, 1889.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, 1s-

In a semaphore signaling apparatus, a reflector having the shape of aparaboloidal segment formed or provided along its upper Intestimonywhereoflhave hereunto-signed edge with a downwardly-reflectingoverhang my name this 12th day of June, A. D. 1889. or hood androtatable about an axis eonoident'rvith that of the parabo1oid,incombina- CHARLES HERSCHEL KOYL.

5 tion with a lamp or other source of light 1ocated at the focal pointof the paraboloid, sub- Witnesses: stantially as and for the purposeshereinbe- OLIN ROHN, fore set forth. H. B. SILSBEE.

